Return-ball



(No Model.)

J. A. GROENINGER.

RETURN BALL.

No. 350,052. Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

UNITED STATES RETURN-BALL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Application tiled Apiil 17, 1596.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be itknown that I, JoHN A. GRonNINoEn, of the city 01' St. Louis, in the State ofMissouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvementin Retu rn-Balls, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the toy, showing the way of using it. Fig. 2 isa perspective view showing the other side to that shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 show the ball separated into two hemispheres, the hammer in the two figures being respectively cocked and uucocked or down. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of the two hemispheres. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the detonatingcap. Figs. 8 and 9 are section views showing a modification, Fig. 8 being taken at sectionline 88, Fig. 9, and Fig. 9 taken at sectionline 9 9, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a view of the fiat face of a hemispherical section ot a ball, showing a modified arrangement of mechanism for operating the hammer.

In Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the ball is represented solid, and in Fig. 9 of sheet metal. In the former case the mostavailable material probably is wood. I will first describe the form shown in the first six figures. The ball may be made by turning out a sphere, and then dividing into two hemispheres. Two blocks maybe secured together and turned into a spherical form afterward.

(I is a recess made in the ilat face of the hemisphere A to receive a pivoted hammer, it), and a spring, E, olsubstautially V shape. The recess 0 may be made part in the hemisphere B, if preferred.

' F is a slot made at crosswise of the recess to receive the detonatingcap G and hold it in such a position that the face d of the hammer will impinge upon it and cause its explosion.

At H are shown three dowel-pins by which the hemispheres are secured to each other. The central pin constitutes the pivot on which the hammer oscillates and one of the side pins the pivot to which one arm, 0, of the spring is connected and upon which it oscillates. The other arm, c, of the spring is connected to the tail of the hammer. Between the arms e and c the spring is turned in a spiral, 6, through No. 350,052, dated September 28, 1886.

Serial i'o. 195L227. (No model.)

which is passed the end ol' the rubber strip or cord 1. by which the ball is caused to return to the hand.

By an examination of Figs. 5; and 4 it may be seen that the tendency of the spring is to hold the hammer in either position in which it may be placed, as in the movement of the hammer the end of the arm c crosses a direct line from the lmmmenpivot to the spring pivot, or passes what is called the center. \Vhen the hammer is in the position shown in Fig. 55, the point c of the spring is only a little past the center, so that an outward strain on. the cord I will move it over the direct line bet-ween the pivot-points of the hammer and spring, and the spring will cause the hammer to forcibly strike a cap, G, which has been put into the slot F.

d. is a projection on the hammer,whiclnwith between the cap and the main portion of the recess 0 and prevents the matter thrown off from the cap by its explosion, entering this space. (F is a project on by which the hammer may be drawn back and cooked.

in the modification shown in Figs. 8 and S) the ball is made of a hollow sphere of sheet metal with a diaphragm, O, stretched across it to which the operating parts are connected by pivots H. In these figures is shown a spring, J, tograsp the cap which is forced into the jaws of the spring by simple inward pressure. The spring has a slot, j, to allow the face of the hammer to come in contact with the cap. The spring .l may be applied to the wooden ball in the same place as in the metal ball. It will be seen that the spring will prevent the matter thrown off by the discharge of the cap from entering the recess (3 to an injurious extent or so as to puff out l'rom the side of the ball which is next to the hand.

In. the drawings, Figs. 8 and 9, the hammerpivot it is shown extending through dents made in the sphere and the ends screw-threaded to receive nuts 11 to hold the hemispheres A and 1; together; but ordinarily the hemi spheres would be fixed together by solder, as it would not be necessary to take the ball apart.

I claim as my invcntion 1. The return-ball having a slot, 0, and a second slot, F, formed at one extremity ot'the first and at right angles thereto, in combinathe body of the hammer, closes the passage tion with a spring-hammer located in the slot J, and a cord having connection with said hammer, substantially as set forth.

2. A return-ball formed of two hemispheres 5 having a recessin their meeting-faces,a springhammer pivoted in said recess concentrically with the circumference of the ball, and acord, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth. IO 3. A return-ball having apivoted hammer, a spring of substantially V shape having one arm pivoted to the ball and the other arm pivotally connected to an arm or finger projecting from the hammer, and a cord attached to I5 'said spring at a point between the extremities of its arms, substantially asset forth.

4. A return-ball formed of two hemispheres, A B, having a recess, 0, in their meeting-faces, dowel-pins H, one of which is concentric with the circumference of the ball, thehammer D, pivoted to said concentric dowel-pin, the substantially V-shaped spring, E,having one arm, 6, pivoted to the ball, and the arm e, connected to the heel of the hammer, and the cord 1, connected to said spring, substantially as set forth.

JNO. A. GROENINGER.

Witnesses:

SAML. KNIGHT, BENJN. A.. KNIGHT. 

